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Webster 1913 Edition

Attract

At-tract′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Attracted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Attracting
.]
[L.
attractus
, p. p. of
attrahere
;
ad
+
trahere
to draw. See
Trace
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition.
All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually
attract
themselves and one another.
Derham.
2.
To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure;
as, to
attract
admirers
.
Attracted
by thy beauty still to gaze.
Milton.
Syn. – To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.

At-tract′

,
Noun.
Attraction.
[Obs.]
Hudibras.

Webster 1828 Edition

Attract

ATTRACT'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. attraho, attractus, of ad and trako, to draw. See Drag and Draw.]
1.
To draw to; to cause to move towards, and unite with; as, electrical bodies attract straws, and light substances, by physical laws.
2.
To draw to or incline to unite with though some cause may prevent the union; as, the sun is supposed to attract the planets.
3.
To draw by influence of a moral kind; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers.
4.
To engage; as, to attract attention.

ATTRACT'

,
Noun.
Attraction. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

attract

attract

English

Verb

attract ‎(third-person singular simple present attracts, present participle attracting, simple past and past participle attracted)

  1. To pull toward without touching.
    • Derham
      All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another.
    • 2013 July-August, Stephen P. Lownie, David M. Pelz, “Stents to Prevent Stroke”, in American Scientist:
      As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels. The reason plaque forms isn’t entirely known, but it seems to be related to high levels of cholesterol inducing an inflammatory response, which can also attract and trap more cellular debris over time.
    A magnet attracts iron filings.‎
  2. To arouse interest.
    Advertising is designed to attract customers.‎
  3. To draw by moral, emotional or sexual influence; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure.
    to attract admirers;   His big smile and brown eyes instantly attracted me.‎

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations

Etymology

From Latin attractus, past participle of attrahere ‎(“to draw to, attract”), from ad ‎(“to”) + trahere ‎(“to draw”).

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /əˈtɹækt/
  • Rhymes: -ækt

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